The cool cats at iFixit shared a video teardown of Apple’s 10th-generation iPad, which offered a closer look at its components and an explanation as to why the tablet lacks support for the second-geernation Apple Pencil.
The teardown reveals the internal layout of the iPad, including its two-cell 7,606 mAh battery, logic board with the A14 Bionic chip, and more.
The teardown also shows that components for the iPad’s landscape-positioned front camera occupy the space where the wireless charging coil would have been located for the second-generation Apple Pencil. As a result, the device is only compatible with the first-generation Apple Pencil, with an adapter required for pairing and charging.
The 10th-gen iPad also features stretch-release battery pulls tabs, as seen in the fifth-generation iPad Air and the sixth-generation iPad mini. These tabs make it easier for repair shops and customers to replace the battery. In comparison, the ninth-generation iPad and many other older iPads have completely glued-in battery cells.
iFixit also noted that the iPad’s USB-C port is soldered to the logic board and that Apple’s self-service repair program does not currently offer parts, manuals, or tools for iPads, making it harder for customers to complete their own repairs.
The 10th-generation iPad was released in late October and offers new features such as a 10.9-inch display with slim bezels, flat edges, A14 Bionic chip, USB-C port, Touch ID power button, landscape-positioned FaceTime camera, 5G support on cellular models, Wi-Fi 6, and a new two-piece Magic Keyboard Folio accessory with a row of function keys. Pricing starts at $449, while the ninth-generation iPad remains available for $329.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.